KTFA:

Frank26:  HAPPY NEW YEAR FAMILY ............. BECAUSE IMO ....... IT IS ......... YOUR TURN.  ALOHA DREAMS OF REALITY \m/

Don961:   Fireworks decorate the skies of Baghdad and Trump threatening Iran and its militias ... the time for warnings is over

Wednesday 01 January 2020

Baghdad - Writings

Celebrations in the Iraqi arenas in the New Year continued with the early hours of today, Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

If the Iraqis launch fireworks heavily in the sky of Baghdad, as an expression of their optimism for the new year, and that it is a year that restores Iraq from Iranian hegemony.

On the other hand, American military helicopters continued to fly over the embassy headquarters in Baghdad with light shots being fired to reveal any new attempts to storm the embassy.

While the US President said, in response to the storming of the embassy and setting fire to two of its doors, that Iran will pay a heavy price for these actions, stressing that these statements are not just a warning but rather a clear threat to Tehran and its militias.   LINK

Iobey777:  IMO, it is wonderful to see the citizens of Iraq looking happy, shooting fireworks and anticipating a great New Year!  I pray that all of their dreams become reality in this New Year!

JJimmyjj:  I was alarmed when I first awoke to see the news about the embassy. My thanks to Frank and the President for explaining what was really going on.

President on twitter:  "The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request....

....Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!"

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Don961:  Washington is preparing to deploy 4 thousand soldiers in Iraq

Date: January 1, 2020

Fox News yesterday quoted US officials as saying that the United States is preparing to deploy 4,000 soldiers in Iraq, following the attack on the American embassy in Baghdad.    LINK

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Don961:  The Pentagon announces the dispatch of 750 soldiers to the Middle East immediately

January 1, 2020

Marines prepare to leave Kuwait for redeployment in Iraq

In the wake of the attack on the United States embassy in Iraq, US Defense Secretary Mark Esber announced Tuesday evening that 750 American soldiers will go to the Middle East immediately.

Esper revealed in a series of tweets on Twitter that, under the guidance of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Donald Trump, "it allowed the dispatch of a battalion of the Immediate Response Force from the 82nd Airborne Battalion to the area of ​​the Central Command operations in response to the recent events in Iraq."

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper @EsperDoD

At the direction of the Commander in Chief @POTUS, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the @82ndABNDiv to the @CENTCOM area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq.

The area known within the Pentagon as the Central Command extends from Egypt to Afghanistan.

The Washington embassy was attacked by members of the popular crowd, and pictures and videos showed that among them were those who were wearing the military uniform of militias, especially the Iraqi Hizbullah, the Badr Organization, and Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

Isber added in a second tweet that about 750 soldiers will head to the area immediately and that there are additional forces from the Immediate Response Force, ready to leave in the coming days. This deployment is an appropriate and preventive measure taken in response to the increased levels of threat against members of the American forces and facilities, as we witnessed in Iraq today. "

He stressed that "the United States will protect our people and interests wherever they are found all over the world."

On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced the dispatch of a Marine Corps Marine Corps force to enhance the security of the embassy and staff following the attack.

An American official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that in the end "up to 4000 soldiers can be deployed to the region", shortly after President Donald Trump's threat to make Tehran pay a "heavy price" against the backdrop of an attempt to storm the US embassy building.    LINK

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Samson:  The President of the Republic: Any attack on embassies is an act that the security forces will strictly prohibit and will be punished by law

31st December, 2019
President of the Republic Barham Salih said on Tuesday that any attack on foreign embassies is an act that the security forces will strictly prohibit and will be punished by law.

The presidency stated in a statement, "Iraq faces serious challenges at the level of threatening its security, sovereignty and the future of its people. Attempting to storm the American embassy in Baghdad is a violation of the international contexts and agreements binding on the Iraqi government."

She added that "peaceful protest is a legitimate and guaranteed right according to the constitution, but exposure to the diplomatic missions accredited in Iraq is a blow to the interests of Iraq and its international reputation as a sovereign state that respects its obligations and agreements and protects diplomatic missions within its borders."

The presidency added that "our duty, the duty of the security forces to protect diplomatic missions, official institutions and public and private interests, and this is at the heart of its duty, and from the reality of concern for public security, we call on protesters to withdraw from the embassy and its approaches and not to escalate the situation."

And she emphasized, "The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is informed that any attack or harassment of foreign embassies and representations is an act that the security forces will strictly prohibit, and the law will punish him with the most severe penalties."   LINK

Samson:  Sheikh Ali: The attack on the American embassy in Baghdad cost Iraq 100 million dollars

1st January, 2020

Member of the House of Representatives, and the candidate for prime minister, Faik Sheikh Ali, confirmed today, Wednesday, that the attack on the American embassy in Baghdad has cost the Iraqi government more than $100 million.

Sheikh Ali said in a tweet followed by "Al-Akhbariya", that "the United States appreciates the damage of the attackers attack on its embassy in Baghdad, at 100 million dollars, an American price of a fence, door, door and jaggoubah."

He added, "Iraq will bury it from the budget of his people," pointing out that it "demands that the leaders of the attacks on the embassy be handed over quietly or leave it to them to hunt them with the kazwa or zinc."

Today's international newspapers dealt with angry protests that took place in front of the United States embassy in Baghdad; and the results of many comparisons between the recent attack and previous attacks on American diplomatic facilities, and highlighted the role of Iraq as a collision point between the influence of the United States and Iran.   LINK

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Samson:  Al-Tamimi: The attack on the American embassy returns Iraq to the seventh item

31st December, 2019

Legal expert, Ali Al-Tamimi, confirmed on Tuesday that the protection of embassies in accordance with international law is the responsibility of the host country, indicating that the attack on the embassy threatens Iraq to return it to Chapter VII.

Al-Tamimi said in a statement to "Al-Akhbaria" that "the 1961 Vienna agreement stipulated that the embassy is part of the soil and land of the country to which it belongs, and this agreement obligated the host country to protect the embassies."

He added, "Every attack on embassies is an attack on the country that owns the embassy, ​​and this enables the affected country to resort to the United Nations in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations."

He explained that "such attacks are a threat to international peace and security that might return Iraq to Chapter Seven ... of the United Nations Charter."   LINK